Licensing Requirements

1. Online applications must be initiated by Designated Representatives (‘D/Rs’) for businesses (agencies, brokerages, adjusting firms). Check out the License Application Checklist and the How To Tutorials.
2. Online applications for insurance agencies and their D/Rs must be “submitted” to the agent’s recommending insurer before they can be reviewed and processed by the AIC (the ‘Regulator’).
3. The D/R of an adjusting firm must initiate the on-line applications. No recommendation is required.
4. The D/R of a firm that adjusts losses limited to Hail, Travel, and Equipment Warranty must initiate the on-line applications. No recommendation is required.
5. A Designated Representative of a business must:
   • Be an individual,
   • Subject to having established eligibility to qualify as the D/R for the class of license applying for, hold a certificate of authority that is of the same class as the certificate of authority held by the business, and
   • Have responsibility for the management and supervision of the business.
6. If a business wishes to conduct insurance for Life, Accident & Sickness, and General as an insurance agent, the business must obtain a separate certificate of authority for each class of license it wishes to conduct business in, and have a D/R for the same class of insurance who meets the qualifications. Please refer to those specific requirements in the appropriate information tab.
7. A business that no longer has a D/R must, within 14 days, submit the required application(s) for an individual who meets the qualifications to apply as the new D/R. If the business does not comply with this requirement, the certificate(s) for the business is automatically suspended in addition to any employees or independent contractors who are issued certificates to represent the business for the same class of license.
8. Every business must satisfy the errors &omissions requirements that has been issued by a licensed insurer in Alberta and that meets the terms and conditions approved by the Alberta Insurance Council. The E&O policy information must be recorded on the on-line applications.
9. If the business is a corporation or partnership, the corporation or partnership must be registered with Alberta Corporate Registries in accordance with the Alberta Business Corporations Act or under the Partnership Act, if applicable. You will be required to provide the Alberta Corporate Access Number.
10. If the business is a non-resident, it must provide evidence that it is licensed as an insurance agent by the appropriate licensing authority in its home jurisdiction in the same name in which it is applying to be licensed in Alberta.
11. You may change a) the Designated Representative (‘D/R’) of an agency/firm, b) the name of a licensed agency, and/or c) the agency’s recommending (‘sponsoring’) insurer as follows:
    • a) To Replace the Current D/R:
      • Have a qualified individual submit an online application that is approved by the same recommending insurer that sponsors the agency for agencies with two or more agents.
      • Email the AIC a signed letter (as a PDF) to terminations@abcouncil.ab.ca that you are terminating (‘suspending’) the current D/R’s certificate(s).
    • b) To Change the Sponsoring Insurer or Agency Name For an Agency With Only One Agent Who is the D/R:
      • Have the D/R submit an online application that is approved by the new sponsoring insurer.
      • To change the agency name to one that is new, review the How-To Tutorial on How to apply for a New Agency Business License.
    • c) To Change the Sponsoring Insurer or Agency Name For Agencies With Two or More Agents: The AIC can assist you prior to May 1^st and after June 30^th without requiring every agent to submit individual applications if you email your request to licensing@abcouncil.ab.ca and provide:
      • The full name of your agency in which it is currently licensed,
      • Your agency’s existing Alberta license number,
      • The Alberta corporate access number for the existing agency (if the business is a corporation or partnership),
      • The new name of the business you propose to change the name to if you changing the agency name. Include legal name (if any) and trade name (if any),
      • A copy of your E&O policy showing the new insured name if you are changing the agency name.
12. The fees for Certificates of Authority are posted here.
13. If you have already paid the full fee in the current licensing year any change to that class of license prior to May 1^st in that year will only require a $25 fee payment.
14. If a Certificate of Authority is issued, renewed, amended or reinstated on or after May 1^st in a year but before July 1^st of that year, it expires on June 30^th of the following year.

1. Applicants for Life and/or Accident & Sickness insurance must complete a separate application for each class of license where their application is recommended by a person who has specifically been authorized by the Head Office to recommend agents for that insurer. They may apply as:
   a) an employee of an insurer or
   b) an employee or independent contractor of a business.
2. New applicants for “Life” or “Accident & Sickness” certificates are required to pass an examination within the previous 12 months before a license can be issued. Please review our FAQs about the LLQP.
3. All new applicants are required to obtain a Criminal Record Check from BackCheck (remember to share with the AIC) or from your local police or RCMP detachment that is not more than 3 months old.
4. Examinations are not required for individuals who previously held, in Alberta, the same class of license being applied for within 24 months from the date the certificate was last held.
5. Non-residents who are licensed in their home jurisdiction may be exempt from Alberta’s exam if they can demonstrate that they have passed an exam that is equivalent to Alberta’s approved exam. If license status confirmation can be obtained from the web site of the licensing authority in your home jurisdiction, a non-resident endorsement will not be required.
6. If the license is to be issued in the name of a business (agency/brokerage), the agency must be licensed in Alberta before you may apply to represent that agency. You must comply with the requirement of the Alberta Insurance Act that you carry on business in Alberta in the business name in which you are licensed.
7. If you are applying to represent a business, your certificate must be recommended by the same insurer that has recommended the certificate for the same class of license for the business.
8. If you wish to represent more than one business, the Insurance Act requires that you obtain a separate insurance agent’s certificate for each business that you wish to represent. All Life certificates that you hold must be recommending by the same life insurance company. You will be required to comply with the duty of disclosure requirement set out in section 491 of the Insurance Act.
9. You may not be issued an insurance agent’s certificate as a direct employee of an insurer and also be issued another insurance agent’s certificate for the same class of license to represent a different insurer or business.
10. Every individual must include a copy of the Errors & Omissions certificate that has been issued by a licensed insurer in Alberta and that meets the terms and conditions approved by the Alberta Insurance Council. An individual applying as an employee of a licensed insurer is exempt from the E&O requirement.
11. If the contract with your company has been cancelled or if you cease to be with an agency and your company and/or agency has notified the Alberta Insurance Council, your certificate(s) will be suspended. If you wish to re-apply you must submit the applicable application(s) along with appropriate fees. You will not be authorized to act as an insurance agent until a new certificate is issued.
12. If you need to change your recommending insurance company or the agency that you represent, you must complete the applicable application(s) along with appropriate fees.
13. The fees for Certificates of Authority as posted here.
14. If you have already paid the full fee in the current licensing year any change to that class of license prior to May 1^st in that year will only require a $25 fee payment.
15. If a Certificate of Authority is issued, renewed, amended or reinstated on or after May 1^st in a year but before July 1^st of that year, it expires on June 30^th of the following year.

1. Applicants for General insurance licenses may apply as:
   a) an employee of an insurer and be recommended by a person who has specifically been authorized by the Head Office to recommend agents for that insurer or
   b) an employee or independent contractor of a business and be recommended by the licensed Designated Representative.
2. New applicants for a “General” certificate are required to pass an examination within the previous 12 months before a license can be issued. Please review our FAQs about the General insurance examinations.
   The General Insurance Council (‘GIC’) has approved course equivalencies for the General Level 1, 2, and 3 exams. Click here for the courses that the GIC has approved.
3. All new applicants are required to obtain a Criminal Record Check from BackCheck (remember to share with the AIC) or from your local police or RCMP detachment that is not more than 3 months old.
4. Examinations are not required for individuals who previously held, in Alberta, the same class and level of license being applied for within 24 months from the date the certificate was last held.
5. Non-residents who are licensed in their home jurisdiction may be exempt from Alberta’s exam if they can demonstrate that they have passed an exam that is equivalent to Alberta’s approved exam. If license status confirmation can be obtained from the web site of the licensing authority in your home jurisdiction, a non-resident endorsement will not be required.
6. If the license is to be issued in the name of a business (agency/brokerage), the agency must be licensed in Alberta before you may apply to represent that agency. You must comply with the requirement of the Alberta Insurance Act that you carry on business in Alberta in the business name in which you are licensed.
7. If you wish to represent more than one business, the Insurance Act requires that you obtain a separate insurance agent’s certificate for each business that you wish to represent. You will be required to comply with the duty of disclosure requirement set out in section 491 of the Insurance Act.
8. You may not be issued an insurance agent’s certificate as a direct employee of an insurer and also be issued another insurance agent’s certificate for the same class of license to represent a different insurer or business.
9. The Errors & Omissions policy must be issued by a licensed insurer in Alberta that meets the terms and conditions approved by the Alberta Insurance Council and must be issued in the name of the business and provide coverage for the employees and independent contractors of the business who hold certificates of authority. An individual applying as an employee of a licensed insurer is exempt from the E&O requirement.
10. You may apply for the following levels of General insurance certificates:
    1. Probationary General certificate that permits an agency or insurer to engage a new person to act as an agent prior to completing the Level 1 agent exam. The probationary agent must act under the direct supervision of a Level 2 or Level 3 agent and the certificate expires in 90 days if the agent does not advance to a Level 1 license by passing the required exam. It can only be issued once for any individual.
    2. General Level 1 certificate when the individual has passed the required Level 1 exam. Holders of a Level 1 certificate are subject to the ongoing supervision of the holder of a Level 2 or Level 3 certificate in accordance with standards established by the Level 3 or by the insurer if the agent is an employee of the insurer.
    3. General Level 2 certificate when the individual has passed the required Level 2 exam within the previous 12 months.
    4. General Level 3 Designated Representative (‘D/R’) certificate when the individual has, within the previous 36 months, held a General level 2 certificate for a period of at least 24 months and has, within the previous 12 months, passed the General level 3 exam.
11. If the contract with your company has been cancelled or if you cease to be with an agency and your company or agency has notified the Alberta Insurance Council, your certificate(s) will be suspended. If you wish to re-apply you must submit the applicable application(s) along with appropriate fees. You will not be authorized to act as an insurance agent until a new certificate is issued.
12. If you need to change your recommending insurance company or the agency that you represent, you must complete the applicable application(s) along with appropriate fees.
13. The fees for Certificates of Authority as posted here.
14. If you have already paid the full fee in the current licensing year any change to that class of license prior to May 1^st in that year will only require a $25 fee payment.
15. If a Certificate of Authority is issued, renewed, amended or reinstated on or after May 1^st in a year but before July 1^st of that year, it expires on June 30^th of the following year.

1. Applicants for an Adjuster’s insurance license may apply as an employee or independent contractor of a business and be recommended by the licensed Designated Representative of a licensed adjusting firm.
2. New applicants for an Adjuster’s certificate (other than restricted “Hail, Equipment Warranty, and Travel Adjusters) are required to pass an examination within the previous 12 months before a license can be issued. Please review our FAQs about the Adjuster examination.
3. All new applicants are required to obtain a Criminal Record Check from BackCheck (remember to share with the AIC) or from your local police or RCMP detachment that is not more than 3 months old.
4. Examinations are not required for individuals who previously held, in Alberta, the same class and level of license being applied for within 24 months from the date the certificate was last held.
5. Non-residents who are licensed in their home jurisdiction may be exempt from Alberta’s exam if they can demonstrate that they have passed an exam that is equivalent to Alberta’s approved exam. If license status confirmation can be obtained from the web site of the licensing authority in your home jurisdiction, a non-resident endorsement will not be required.
6. If the license is to be issued in the name of a firm, the adjusting firm must be licensed in Alberta before you may apply to represent that firm. You must comply with the requirement of the Alberta Insurance Act that you carry on business in Alberta in the business name in which you are licensed.
7. If you wish to represent more than one business, the Insurance Act requires that you obtain a separate Adjuster’s certificate for each business that you wish to represent.
8. Individuals who are direct employees of a licensed insurance company are not required to become licensed as an adjuster in Alberta.
9. The Errors & Omissions policy must be issued by a licensed insurer in Alberta that meets the terms and conditions approved by the Alberta Insurance Council and must be issued in the name of the business and provide coverage for the employees and independent contractors of the business who hold certificates of authority.
10. You may apply for the following levels of Adjusters’ certificates:
    • Adjuster Level 1 certificate when the individual has passed the required Level 1 exam.
    • Adjuster Level 2 certificate when the individual has at least 24 months of consecutive claims adjusting experience and has successfully completed 6 courses of the Insurance Institute of Canada for a designation as an Associate of the Insurance Institute of Canada, of which one course must be C-15 (Loss Adjustment and Claims Settlements), C-17 (Claims 1), or C-110 (Essentials of Loss Adjusting), or courses that are equivalent.
    • Adjuster Level 3 Designated Representative (‘D/R’) certificate when the individual has met the level 2 requirements and:
      • Is an Associate or Fellow of the Insurance Institute of Canada, or Chartered Insurance Professional or a Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional;
      • Has successfully completed the C-32 (Bodily Injury Claims) and either C-46 (Claims 2), C-41 (Property Loss Adjustment), or C-111 (Advanced Loss Adjusting) courses of the Insurance Institute of Canada, or courses that are equivalent; and
      • Has acted as an adjuster for at least 60 months within the 10-year period immediately preceding the date of application.

11. Applicants with more than 10 years insurance adjusting experience prior to 1990 and who is not an Associate or Fellow of the Insurance Institute of Canada should contact the Council for further instructions.
12. All individuals holding Levels 1 and 2 Adjusters’ Certificates may only act as an adjuster if the individual is subject to the direct supervision of a holder of a Level 3 adjuster’s certificate of authority. A business that acts or offers to act as an adjuster and operates from more than one office must have in each office at least one adjuster who holds a level 2 adjuster’s certificate of authority.
13. If you cease to be with an adjusting firm and your firm has notified the Alberta Insurance Council, your certificate(s) will be suspended. If you wish to re-apply you must submit the applicable application(s) along with appropriate fees. You will not be authorized to act as an adjuster until a new certificate is issued.
14. If you need to change the name of the firm that you represent, you must complete the applicable application(s) along with appropriate fees.
15. The fees for Certificates of Authority as posted here.
16. If you have already paid the full fee in the current licensing year any change to that class of license prior to May 1^st in that year will only require a $25 fee payment.
17. If a Certificate of Authority is issued, renewed, amended or reinstated on or after May 1^st in a year but before July 1^st of that year, it expires on June 30^th of the following year.

The Minister has delegated the responsibility for the licensing of businesses for restricted insurance agents’ certificates of authority in the Province to the Alberta Insurance Council.

Each business that intends to market each of these types of insurance must hold a Certificate of Authority authorizing the business, through its employees, to transact that type of insurance. The Certificate of Authority must name one individual who will be the “Designated Individual” for the business to be responsible for receiving notices and other documents under the Insurance Act. Businesses that may apply for a restricted certificate to engage in the sale of these types of insurance include:

• Deposit Taking Institutions
• Transportation Companies
• Travel Agencies
• Automobile Dealerships
• Other Prescribed Enterprises including:
  • Sales Finance Companies
  • Customs Brokers licensed under the Customs Act (Canada)
  • Freight-Forwarding Companies
  • Equipment Dealers
  • Real Estate Brokerages
  • Funeral Services Businesses
  • Vehicle Rental Agencies

For a list of Credit Related Insurance Definitions, including approved insurance classes/types that restricted certificate holders may sell, please click here.

1. On-line applications must be initiated by the Designated Individual (‘DI’) for the business (refer to eligible businesses above).
2. Each Designated Individual must obtain their own CIPR number. The Designated Individual must submit a separate on-line application for each type of insurance that the business will engage in. The application must be “submitted” on-line to the agent’s recommending insurer before it can be reviewed and processed by the AIC (the ‘Regulator’).
3. If the business is a corporation or partnership, the corporation or partnership must be registered with Alberta Corporate Registries in accordance with the Alberta Business Corporations Act or under the Partnership Act, if applicable. You will be required to provide the Alberta Corporate Access Number.
4. Every business must satisfy the errors &omissions requirements that has been issued by a licensed insurer in Alberta and that meets the terms and conditions approved by the Alberta Insurance Council. The E&O policy information must be recorded on the on-line applications.
5. Individuals replacing DIs of Restricted Licensees and/or changing their recommending insurer must apply on-line by logging into the AIC portal. If the individual who is replacing the previous Designated Individual is new, that individual must have registered for their own CIPR number.
6. If the Designated Individual has left, your business must immediately replace that individual by completing the required application.
7. The fees for Certificates of Authority as posted here.
8. If you have already paid the full fee in the current licensing year any change to that class of license prior to May 1^st in that year will only require a $25 fee payment.
9. If a Certificate of Authority is issued, renewed, amended or reinstated on or after May 1^st in a year but before July 1^st of that year, it expires on June 30^th of the following year.